Snap clamp for tapping electric conductors



jufiy n' T. F. JQHN5QN, JR

szm cmw Fem TAPPING gwc'rmc CQNDUCTORS Filed Nov.

INVENTOR Hill WITNESSES ATTORNEY Patent duly 8, 1924.

' fit I :nsom roar aonnson,

- srmr or. W

FOR TAPPHIG ERIC GONDUGTQ JR, 015 A 1 A, GEORGIA.

Application filed November 13, '1918. Serial No. 282,366.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TOMLINSON F. J OHN- SON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residin at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and tate of Geor ia, have invented a new and useful Snap lamp for Tapping Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

- This invention has reference to snap clamps whereby branch conductors may be attached to line wires for various purposes, and the invention is an improvement 11 on the snap clamp shown and described in tters Patent #1244339, granted to me October 23, 1917.

The object of the invention. is to provide a snap clamp of materially greater current 'carryin capacity with a material reduction in weig t of the structure, by which reduction of weight the cost of manufacture is reduced and there is greater ease in handling the clamp. Also all edges of the clamp where possibly contacting with the line conductor are rounded, thereby eliminating all danger of injury to the line conductor and facilitatin both the application and the removal of the clamp.

The invention comprises a clamp provided with opposed jaws,'one-' of which may be a singlej aw and the other a multiple jaw, the multiple jaw being hingedly connected to the single jaw and its parts independently constrained toward the single aw by spring means. The multiple jaw may be formed of two identical parts andthe single and multiple jaws have gripping portionsflfor engaging a line conductor between them. The spring means are so arranged that their tens1on may be varied'to accommodate them to line conductors of different sizes. The sin le jaw isv provided with guides for the mu tiple jaw and the multiple jaw may be utilized to indicate the proper gripping of the conductor by the two jaws. V

There are various advantages of the multiple' jaw construction over a single jaw construction which will hereinafter appear. The invention also includes a rigid or stiff loop on theclamp which is advantageous over flexible or pivoted loopsas heretofore employed.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with w the accompanying drawing forming o this specification, with the understan g,

however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showin of the drawing but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressedin the appended claims.

In the drawing I Figure 1 is an elevation of the clamp as viewed from the single jaw face. Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fi ure 1.

igure 3 is an elevation of the face of the clamp remote from that shown in Figure 1.

Figure et'is a-bottom plan view of that jaw of the clamp appearing in Figure 1.

5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to. the drawing, there is shown a jaw 1 of web .and flange construction and at one end the jaw 1 is formed with a socket 2 entered at one side by a set screw 3. The socket 2 is designed to receive a branch conductor, shown in dotted lines at' 4 in Figure 2, to be held in the socket by the set; screw 3. The jaw 1 is strengthened by side flanges 5 and a central longitudinal flange 6, thus greatly contributing to the strength of the aw while permittin a material reduction in weight thereo The flange 6 merges into an eye 7 ofistanding from the back of the jaw midway of the formed with agroove or recess 10 inset with relation to the .f the jaw and consti tuting a seat in which a line conductor 11 may be lodged. In the drawing, the line conductor 11 is shown as of relatively small diameter but it is to be understood that the clamp is adapted toline conductors of much vgreater diameter, as for instance, a line conuctor 12 shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

Of course, the clamp may be used with otherline conductors of different diameters but the representations of the line conductors 11 and 12 will be sufficient to indicate the wide extent of use of the clamp.

Opposed the jaw 1 is a multiple jaw made up of two like members 13, 14 respectively, each of web and flange construction. The two jaw members 13 and 14 are arv ranged to be in substantially edge to edge contact at their .meeting ed es where they are provided with longitudinal flanges 15 extending rearwardly from the respective jaw members 13 and 14.

,Extending through the web portion of the jaw member 1 on each side of the central web 6 is a rod 16 rovided with spaced perforations 17 near t e end which extends through the web of the jaw 1. One of the perforations of each rod 16 is traversed by a pin 18 which ma lod e in a recess or seat 19 on the rear ace of the jaw 1 which may be there reinforced as indicated at 20. Each jaw member 13 and 14 is traversed by one of the rods 16, the web portion of the jaw having a boss or reinforcement 21 where the rod 16 traverses it. Each rod 16 is provided with a head 22 at the end remote from the perforations 17 and between the boss 21 and head 22 the rod is surrounded by a coil spring 23. Each jaw member 13 and 14 terminates at one end in a rounded rib 24 extended transversely of the jaw and seated in the groove 9, which rib and groove serve the purpose of a hinge connect1on between the jaw members 13 and 14 and the jaw 1, .the rods 16 with the springs 23 being spaced away from the hinge and tending constantly to move the jaw members 13 and 14 toward the jaw 1. Each jaw member 13 and 14 on the face toward the jaw 1 is formed with a shoulder 25 opposite but slightly displaced in the direction of the length of the jaws from the deeper portion of the recess 10 in the face ofthe jaw 1.

Each jaw member 13 and 14 has a narrowed extension or tapering tail 26 at the end thereof remote from the rib 24, the rib 15 mer 'ng into the tail end and serving to strengt en it. The face of the tail portion of each jaw 13 and 14 is curved away from the jaw l'so that there is produced a throat 27 relatively wide between the socket 2 and 'tail 26 and progressively narrowing toward the shoulder 25 and groove 10.

In order to ide the jaw members 13 and 14 so that the ribs 24 will remain seated m the groove 9 and not tend to turn on the rods 16, the jaw 1 has fingers 28 at opposite sides embracing the outer edges of the jaws 13 and 14, these fingers being parallel to each other so as to not interfere with the separation and a proach of the jaw members 13 and 14 wit respect to the jaw 1.

The socket 2 on the side entered by the set'screw 3 is provided with outstanding flanges 29 spaced apart lengthwise of the socket and carrying leg ortions, 30 of a 100 31 extendin throug the flanges 29 an made fast t ereto. The loop 30 has its yoke end bent away from the socket 2 at an angle to the length of the loop where seated in the flanges 29.

All edge portions of the jaws where they may come in contact with the line' conductors are rounded so as to avoid sharp or square cornered edges which would be liable to dig into the line conductor and, furthermore, make it diflicult to remove the clamp from the line or to place it on the line. When it is desired to attach the clamp to a line conductor the clamp is so placed that the throat portion 27 will receive the line conductor, whether it be a small conductor 11 or a large one 12. The conductor easily enters the throat 27, this being facilitated by the spread of the throat toward its receiving end, rounded side portions 32 of the faces of the jaw members 13 and 14 and the curved tapering ends 33 of the tail portions 26 of the jaw members 13 and 14. Furthermore, the end of the socket 2 remote from the body member of the jaw.

is rounded, as indicated at 34, to avoid sharp edges or corners.

As the clamp is moved onto the conductor 11 or 12 the jaw members 13 and 14 yield because of the springs 23, the two members 13 and 14 yielding independently of each other, thus facilitating the placing of the clamp on the conductor or the removal therefrom. Moreover, the division of the movable jaw member improves the contact with the line and permits the employment of more powerful springs, both contributing materially to the increased current-carrying capacity of the clamp. The split jaw also makes the clamp easier to put on and take off of the line, due to the fact that the clamp may be handled with a twisting motion and the resistance of but one s ring at a time has to be over-' come instea of necessitating overcoming the resistance of two springs at the same time. .4

The rods or studs 16 carrying the springs have independent holdin pins 18, which pins may be either straig t pins or cotter pins. This facilitates theremoval or replacing of the pins, since but one spring ata time need be compressed, this bein a distinct advantage over constructions o clamps using a common pin for both spring carrying studs or rods, since both springs had to be simultaneously compressed to remove the pin.

Two or more pin-receiving. holes 17 are spaced in the direction of the length of the rod so that the pressure of the jaws of the clamp on the conductor may be made approximately the same on a small line conductor as on a large one. When the line wire is of small diameter the in 18 is put in the hole which is the more dlstant from the end of the spring-carrying rod or stud 16, while for a conductor of large diameter the pin is memes The narrowinglof the tail end 26 of the jaws 13 and 14 is of advantage since it ermits the placing of the clamp on the 'ne conductor at very much greater angles than is possible where there is a single jaw and the tail end of the jaw is wide. This is a very desirable feature, since, in practice, it is often impossible for a lineman to get as directly behind the point on the line conductor at which the clamp is to be applied as vviould be necessary with other designs of 0 am It 1s apparent that instead of making the loop 30 separate from the jaw 1 it may be.

cast in one piece therewith similar to the eye 7 at the other end of the jaw. It is preferable, however, be in planes at substantially right angles to each other. 7

The loop 31 is made rigid or still instead of loose or hinged as in prior types, since a stiff loop contributes materially'to the ease of handling the clamp. It is much more easy to catch with the operating stick, and when once caught the clamp is moreeasily controlled by it than with the flexible loop. Also by means of the rigid loop the clamp can be mounted permanently on the end .of the stick, which, is desirable in some classes of work. The loop 31 and the eye 7 permit the handling of the clamp by two men, with one stick caught in the eye and the other in the loop. This becomes necessary in handling the clamp in close places, or when the man having a stick in the eye 7 is in such position that he cannot exert a downward pull on the clamp.

Furthermore, the split front of the clam made up of the two jaw members 13 and 14 automatically indicates whether or not the clamp is properly seated on the line conductor. If the clamp be properly seated then the two independent halves makin up what might be termed the front jaw of the clamp may be in the same plane and appear as one piece. If not properly seated then the two halves will not be in the same plane but will conspicuously appear as two mde- A pendent parts.

What is claimed is 1. A snap clamp for tapping electric line conductors, having opposed aws of like gripping area, one of which jaws is a multiple jaw with the members independently movable toward and from the other jaw.

2. A snap clamp for tapping'electric line conductors, provided with opposed jaws for receiving the conductor between them, one 'aw being a one-piece jaw and the other jaw eing composed of separate members carried by the first-named jaw and of a combined gripping area equal to the first jaw, and means for independently and elastically thatthe loop 30 and eye 7 th .traversin constraining the separate members toward said first-named jaw.

3. A snap clamp for tapping electric line' conductors, comprising a jaw having a holder for a branch conductor, and another jaw comprising a plurality of separate contiguous members hingedly connected to the first jaw and provided with spring compression means individual thereto for constraining the members of the second-named jaw independently and elastically toward the firstnamed jaw, said second-named jaw members each having a tail continuation at the end remote from the hinge connection and in divergent relation to the first-named jaw, and said tail continuation narrowing in .width from the sides of the second-named jaw toward the longitudinal center line ereof.

4. A snap clamp for tapping electric line conductors, comprising two opposed jaws hingedly connected with one jaw having a normal constraint toward the other and said jaw being composed of a plurality of members with meeting edges extending lengthwise of the jaw and each member bein independently elastically yieldable away om the first-named jaw.

5. A snap clamp for tapping electric line conductors, comprising opposed jaws hingedly connected together and normally constrained toward each other, one of the jaws having an extension at one end for receiving the line conductor, said extension narrowing in width and curving away from the corre sponding portion of the other jaw, and the narrowed portion of the jaw being rounded in a direction transverse to its length.

6. A snap clamp tor tapping electric line P conductors, comprising two jaws hingedly second-named jaw having longitudinal meeti fla es at their meeting edges projecting a ay tro m the face of the jaw, and the firstnamed jaw having guide fingers at its side portions embracing those edges of the seeond-named jaw remote from the flanges.

7. A snap clamp for tapping electric line conductors, comprising two jaws, one-jaw being a one-piece jaw and the other being a twopiece jaw divided lengthwise of the clamp, the jaws being hingedly connected together at one end and at a point distant rom the hinge the jaws having coacting seats for receiving a line conductor, rods each member of the divided jaw and earned by the other jaw, separate holding means for each rod where first-named jaw, and springs on the rods whereby each member of the second-named jaw is separately constrained toward the ed to compensate for different diameters of line conductors.

8. A snap clamp for tapping electrical conductors comprising jaws adapted to receir e a line conductor between them and seat and clamp it, one of the jaws having a sockat to receive a branch conductor, and a loop secured rigidly to said jaw adjacent said socket and extending beyond that end of the jaw in divergent relation to the branch conductor.

9. A snap clamp for tapping electrical conductors comprising jaws adapted to receive a line conductor between them and seat and clamp it, one of the jaws having a socket to receive a branch conductor, a plurality of flanges outstanding from that portion of the jaw having the socket, said flanges being parallel and bored transversely, a loop member having its legs passed through the bores of the flanges, the yoke end of theloop member being bent away from the socket portion so as to extend in divergent relation to the branch conductor, means at the ends of the legs for preventing movement of the loop out away from the socket member, said bending of the loop preventing movement in the opposite direction, the loop being held rigidly whereby the snap clamp may be mounted permanently upon a pole by means of the loop.

- In testimony, that I claim the foregoing-as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

TOMLINSON FORT JOHNSON, JR.

Witnesses;

P. C. HERAULT, I. W. GREENE. 

